TOP 10 STUDY TIPS

Study isn't just for the night before an assignment's due or the night before an exam. It's never too early - or too late - to develop good study habits. The sooner you get into a good study groove, the easier everything will be and the more your chances of getting good marks will improve.

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Here are our top tips for getting the most out of study. Click each link for more about each tip:

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> 1. Pick a place and time

> 2. Study every day

> 3. Plan your time

> 4. Discover your learning style

> 5. Review and revise

> 6. Take breaks

> 7. Ask for help

> 8. Stay motivated

> 9. App it up

> 10. Look after yourself

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1. Pick a place and time

Everyone has their own idea about the best place and time to study. Whether it's your bedroom at night or the library after school, find a study space and a regular study time that works for you and stick with it.

• Set up your study space - Your study space should be quiet, comfortable and distraction-free. It should make you feel happy and inspired. Decorate it with your favourite pictures or objects. If you want to listen to music or burn incense, pick a space that lets you do that.

• Find your best time - Some people work better in the morning. Others work better at night. Work out which time suits you and plan to study then. Don't study much later than your usual bedtime - pushing yourself late at night can make you too tired to study properly.

 

2. Study every day

If you study a little bit every day you'll be continually reviewing things in your mind. This helps you understand things. It also helps you avoid the stress of last-minute cramming.

Early in the year an hour or two a night might be enough to stay on top of things. Later in the year you might need to study more each day.

If you're finding it hard to find time to study, cut back on some (but not all!) of your other activities. Prioritising study might mean spending less time online, or it might mean cutting back on shifts at work, or giving weekend sport a miss for a while.
 

3. Plan your time

It helps to have some plans in motion so you can make the most of your study time.

• Set alarms - Set alarms to remind you about your study plans. A regular reminder keeps you honest and your plans on track.

• Use a wall planner - Stick a calendar or wall planner up so you can see it whenever you're studying. Mark it up with important dates, like exams and assignment due dates. Use it to block out your regular study timetable too.

• Make to-do lists - Lists break tasks down into manageable chunks. At the start of the week, make a list of the things that you need to have done by the end of the week. Make a to-do list at the start of each study session too, so that you're clear about what you need to be doing with your time. 

• Set time limits - Before you start your study session, have a look at your to-do list and give yourself a set time to spend on each task. If you don't get something done in the set time, consider whether it's the best use of your time to keep going with it, or to start working on something else.

 

4. Discover your learning style

Most of us have a preferred way of learning. Get to know the learning style you're most comfortable with and study in the ways you learn best.

Note that these styles are just a way to think about different studying techniques - they're not hard and fast rules that say you should only study in one way. Try each of these out and see which ways you prefer.

• Auditory learners prefer to learn by listening. Try reading your notes aloud and discussing them with other people. You might like to record key points and play them back.

• Visual learners prefer to learn by seeing. Try using colours in your notes and draw diagrams to help represent key points. You could try to remember some ideas as images.

• Tactile/kinaesthetic learners prefer to learn by doing. Try using techniques like role-playing or building models to revise key points.

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5. Review and revise

At least once a week you should go back over the things you've studied in class. Thinking things over can help you to understand the concepts and help you remember when you need them the most.

• Quiz yourself - Get a friend or family member to quiz you on key concepts. Offer to help your friends with their work too. Quizzes are great ways to get confident about what you know and find out what you still need to learn.

• Make your own study materials - Think up some practice exam questions or create your own flash cards to help you study. This way you learn it all twice: once when you make the study materials and once when you use them to revise.

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6. Take breaks

It's important to take breaks while you're studying, especially if you're feeling tired or frustrated. Working too long on a task can actually decrease your performance.

When you take a break, make sure you get away from your desk or study space. A bit of physical activity - even just a walk around the block - can sometimes help you to look at a problem in a different way and could even help you to solve it.

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7. Ask for help

If you're stuck on something, or something just doesn't seem to make sense, you can always ask for help. Talk to your teachers or lecturers about the things you don't understand. Talk to your friends and fellow students too.

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8. Stay motivated

When you're studying it helps to keep in mind your reasons for doing all this hard work, like a course or career you're working towards. It can help to have something in your study space to remind you of your goals.

You could also decorate your study space with inspirational quotes or photos of people you admire and family members you want to make proud of you.

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9. App it up

There are heaps of apps out there for helping students with all aspects of study. Have a chat with your friends and teachers/lecturers to see which apps they recommend.

You should also check out the iTunes Collections page on iPads for Learning (new window), which provides links to Australian Curriculum courses on iTunes U as well as educational apps aimed at high school, middle school and primary school students. 

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10. Look after yourself

You’ll study better if you take care of yourself. Make sure you eat well and get enough sleep and physical exercise. Don't reward yourself with too many sugary or fatty snacks or push yourself to study late into the night. It’s also a good idea to make sure you drink lots of water when you’re studying. 

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Memory Verses for lessons 1-8 semester one

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Why learn memory verses?

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Firstly, as a believer, our doctrine determines our behaviour. One can have an opinion without a change in behaviour, so it is essetnial that we have Gods word as a resource to inform, inspire and direct us.

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Secondly, we are transformed by the renewing of our mindset. We cannot truly change our actions without a change in our thinking. Faulty thinking produces faulty behaviour. If we want to become Christ like, we need to "know" the truth, not just hear it.

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Thirdly, if Gods word is not memorised, then in times of need, we will not be able to recall it. "Doesn't it say somewhere" is no real defence against faulty thinking. If you recall, when Jesus was tempted by the devil, his repsonse was clear. 

Matthew 4:7Jesus replied, “It is also written:‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

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Never underestimate the power of a verse of scripture in times of need. If it isn't inside, it can't come out. The Holy Spirit enlightens scriptural understand through revelation. 

 

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

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Hide the word in your heart through memorising the scripture. it is a weapon for attack and defence, for yourself and others.

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Lesson one Memory Verse

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church,and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

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Lesson two Memory Verse

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

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LESSON FIVE - The Doctrine of Baptisms

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Hebrews 6:1-3, "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again THE FOUNDATION of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit."

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Notice that the doctrine of baptisms is categorized with five other foundational doctrines.

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Matthew 3:11 NIV "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." 1 Corinthians 12:13 "For by ONE SPIRIT [Spirit Baptism] are we all baptized into ONE BODY."                    

 

1. SIN (PAST)                    2. POWER (FUTURE)

 

John 3:5-8 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God . . . Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The WIND blows where it wishes, and YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF IT, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. SO IS EVERYONE WHO IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT."

 

·  The original Greek word translated as "wind" is Pneuma.

·  The word Pneuma literally means "Spirit," "wind," or "breath." 

 

In every other place where the word pneuma is used throughout the Greek NT, it is translated into English as the word "Spirit," except in this one instance.

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The consistent Greek rendering of John 3:8  reads, "The Spirit breathes where it will, and YOU HEAR ITS VOICE … THUS IT IS WITH EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN BORN OF THE SPIRIT."

 

The  Interlinear Bible also renders John 3:8, "The Spirit breathes where He desires, and YOU HEAR HIS VOICE but you do not know from where He comes, and where He goes – SO IS EVERYONE WHO HAS RECEIVED BIRTH FROM THE SPIRIT."

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• Can anyone be saved without faith in the resurrection of Christ?

• Can anyone be saved without repenting of his or her sins?                              

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Likewise, no one can be saved without believing and obeying the doctrine of baptisms; i.e. "Water and Spirit."

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A baptism is a transition - out of an old way of living into a totally new way of living. It is total immersion. All of our being is involved.  BAPTIZED INTO

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The doctrine of baptisms, water and Spirit, is foundational to experiencing true conversion. There are many passages that proclaim the essential nature of both experiences.

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Titus 3:4-5 (N.K.J.V.)

But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit

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LESSON SIX -THE HOLY SPIRIT (to come)

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In this study, I make mention of a book which formed part of my early understanding and discovery of the person of the Holy Spirit, by Dennis and Rita Bennett. It is readily available for purchase online, here is an online link to the p.d.f.

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Please note: Due to drive space some files are unavailable

 

LESSON SEVEN

LESSON EIGHT

LESSON NINE

Hebrews 6:1 says, "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection."

 

• What if the gospel concentrates solely on the messenger and overlooks the message He brought?

• What if this focus overlooks the power brought by the messenger?

• All the good news becomes about Him and His importance to the process.

• Our Concentration is on the Messenger,

• We will believe that salvation comes merely because we believe in the Messenger. Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven

• The messenger and the message REVEAL THE FATHER

 

The message that Jesus Christ brought, (the GOOD news of the gospel) is about The Kingdom of God, the culmination, the goal, the fulfillment of the message.

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• The gospel does not specifically concentrate on Christ, yet we do not want to denigrate the majour role He plays either.

• The process , though its ultimate purpose will end when He delivers the Kingdom to the Father

I Corinthians 15:24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

• The Messenger became the high priest and we are saved through his message.

• Christianity has to go beyond the fact that He was the Messenger.

• Now He is the High Priest in heaven. And though He is High Priest, to make in relation to the Kingdom of God.

 

That is why Hebrews 6:1 says, "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection."

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While we must try to imitate Him, we have to go on to perfection, to completion, because the process is not complete with just believing in Jesus Christ. 

 

Heb.6:1-3 “Let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation …”

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• Eternal Judgement is a key foundation in the life of believer.

• Judge = to separate, to distinguish, to see through.

• Current Judgements – these occur in our time:

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LESSON TEN

LESSON ELEVEN

LESSON TWELVE

LESSON THIRTEEN

LESSON FOURTEEN

LESSON FIFTEEN

LESSON SIXTEEN

LESSON SEVENTEEN

 

Over the past few months taught, ALL Authority comes through the chain of command.

 

Ephesians clarifies where we SIT,  on what we stand and how we WALK.

 

All these aspects are crucial to our spiritual warfare:

• SIT  Ephesians 1:20, 2:6

• Our Stand Ephesians 4:1, 17, 5:2, 8, 15

• Our Walk or Life – Ephesians 6:11 

 

Our Warfare the goal is to produce casualties , many Christians aren’t even walking in right ALIGNMENT, let alone STANDING against the enemy.

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• Casualties such as –  Mistrust,  Rebellion, Gossip, (Missing in action). Disobedience, Cares of World, Prosperity,

• We gain access to the authority which comes through relationship with Jesus Christ, We must abide in Him. (Abiding produces FRUIT) John 15.

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If our FOCUS is on the wrong KINGDOM, we see the GOLIATH, NOT THE DAVID

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The keys to understanding the tactics of our ENEMY is by 4 KEY Factors:

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1. ASSOCIATION (WHERE WE SIT STAND WALK)
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.…  

                                                                                
2. ALIGNMENT (IN CHRIST, UNDER AUTHORITY, HONOURING, GODS PURPOSE) Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Resisting powers are to resist God)

3. REVELATION (KNOWLEDGE IN ITSELF IS NOT REVELATION)
    Ephesians 1:17 (NASB) 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,   may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the [a]knowledge of Him.

1.    God will GIVE us a SPIRIT of WISDOM
2.    And REVELATION  (The Holy Spirit REVEALS truth) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13
3.    IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM…. Not ABOUT him, but IN HIM
    John 16:12 I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.  

                          
 THE ONE ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION IS THE REVELATION OF CHRIST.

4. CONFESSION
Proverbs 18:21 (CSB) Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Matthew 12:37 (NKJV) 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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The power of our confession is what justifies or vilifies Gods provision.

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Revelation 12:1 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

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Our warfare is often unseen, but is never the less  real. As believers, we speak of what is unchangeable - Gods Word. The changed life, is true testimony to a life in CHRIST.

 

LESSON EIGHTEEN

LESSON NINETEEN THE FAMILY

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ORDER starts with SELF CONTROL – RELATIONAL HARMONY – FAMILY ORDER -

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Koinonia is a transliterated form of the Greek word, κοινωνία, which means communion, joint participation; the share which one has in anything, participation, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution.

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The FAMILY is often our first introduction to Gods design for us.

 

Many don’t have the benefit of a positive experience, or a role model of how the family should function. Never the less, Gods design for mankind is still true.

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Psalm 68:5 Father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in His holy habitation. 6 God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

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Understanding WHY the family is so important to GOD, enables us to understand WHY the CHURCH is part of His ETERNAL plan, and why JESUS is coming back for it, as His BRIDE and REWARD.

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THE CHURCH – THE KINGDOM – THE FAMILY all represents GOD’S MODEL for spiritual ORDER and FUNCTION – A dysfunctional FAMILY creates a dysfunctional CHURCH / KINGDOM.

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Currently in NZ the Abortion Law is being read in Parliament with the intention on reforming it. The proposed amendments and what NZ'ers say, is found on this discussion paper below. Each person is presently been given an opportunity to have our say. I encourage everyone to take that opportunity by filing a submission. DOWNLOAD

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LESSON TWENTY CHURCH RESTORATION

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When we consider the impact that a worldwide philosophy can have on us, we must ensure our understanding comes from a God centered belief system. As we have already seen in this series, we interchange words like, Church, Family, and Kingdom. As a believer in Christ, we acknowledge that Jesus came to redeem mankind, not the world as we know it.

Gods plan for man is to express His kingdom in the way we live.

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In this study we look at Gods restoration plan.

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You take a vintage car or antique and turn it into a modern version or custom hot rod, but if you want to restore it back to it’s original status, you need to make it exactly as the ‘maker’s design and plans. So it is with each of us. The original plan for mankind was seen in the creation in the garden of Eden.

 

Since the first Adam broke the initial sinless union with God, the plan of redemption and restoration was revealed through Christ. Therefore; Gods influence and order, encompasses:

• THE INDIVIDUAL (my relationship with Him)

• THE FAMILY (Gods order in the family)

• THE CHURCH (Gods order in the church)

• THE KINGDOM (Gods order in His kingdom)

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Restoration then, must begin within us. John 3 outlines our need to be born again (spirit salvation) and entrance to kingdom living via baptism in The Holy Spirit and Water Baptism (by immersion).

This is the foundation of our salvation, but each one of us must seek ongoing salvation as we are transformed. Philip 2:12

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Acts chapter three instructs us of Christs retention in heaven until the restoration of "all things". This study shows us Gods plan for restoration naturally and spiritually. (Israel and Church).

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There are two KEY aspects to restoration:

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1. The Messianic Kingdom (Israel) Deliverance from Gentile oppression Amos 9:14 and 15
    

2. Those Born INTO the Kingdom of God John 3

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"Jesus Christ became Incarnate for one purpose, to make a way back to God that man might stand before Him as He was created to do, the friend and lover of God Himself." - Oswald Chambers

 

"By a Carpenter mankind was made, and only by that Carpenter can mankind be remade." - Desiderius Erasmus

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LESSON TWENTY ONE THE LOCAL CHURCH

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When one enters the kingdom of God through new birth, we automatically become part of the wider (global) vision of the body of Christ. We are born into the kingdom which expresses itself through a body of believers worldwide, but connected on a daily basis is through a local church.

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It is within this local body that we learn how to live, work and relate  to other believers as a family unit. We grow and mature as we are jointed in a bodily expression called "The Church".

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Many of the day to day issues are outworked through ongoing relationships, and those who form part of the local church are truly  blessed to be part of this kingdom expression.

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Gods plan was to reveal this pattern through His word:

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1. All true believers in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord are part of the universal OR GLOBAL church.

2. The universal church expresses itself in local assemblies which form the church in the geographical areas in which these believers reside.

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The early church did not provide a multiplicity of churches, denominations, or cultural preferences; but rather ONE church in each City, and rarely in the form that we expect of a church meeting today. Often meetings were behind closed doors (in homes, workplaces or places only known to fellow believers).

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LESSON TWENTY TWO - Ascension Gifts

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As God establishes his order in us, He also provides order to his house. As we have affirmed in previous studies, the Kingdom, The Church  and The Family, are a direct representation of His character /nature, and order of things.

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God has chosen to place governance and order to his body, and as such, has arranged and chosen specific individuals and ministry gifts to build His body .

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These ministries are called "ascension gift" ministries for in Ephesians 4:8, it is said that Jesus in ascending far above all heavens to be seated at the right hand of the Father, Heb. 10:12, poured out His Holy Spirit, Acts 2:33, and as well as giving gifts of the Spirit, or "spirituals", 1 Cor. 12:1, He gave gifts of men or ministries.

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These five ministries listed are seen to be the continuation of the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth.  He was the greatest apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher and evangelist.

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Ministries in the church were seen to be evident and in God's timing, the men called by God for particular work were set apart at the direction of the Holy Spirit and confirmed into the task set before them.  See Acts 13:1-4.

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A word used in relationship to building his body is "Katartismos"  which means "complete furnishing, equipping". It has it's origins in the ship building industry and emphasizes a shipwrights  capacity to "fit together" wood pieces of all manner of shapes  and sizes in constructing a ship "fit for service" on the high seas.

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This image is better understood when we consider the Church and wider body of Christ being "pulled together" and each person "fitted into" their appropriate place of appointment within the totality of the vessel as a whole.

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When each ministry gift is functioning on the project as a whole, the necessary parts come together in a common purpose. These collective ministries have a three-fold objective:

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• For the perfecting of the saints. Ephesians. 4:12

• For the work of the ministry.

• For the edifying of the body of Christ.

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One must note; that education alone does NOT equip a person for ministry. We may cite all manner of certificates, courses and training, but that does not qualify us for being called. Preparation IS ESSENTIAL, but God chooses severally as He wills...

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The Apostle Paul, after fathering more churches e.g. Ephesus - Acts 19, was able to write to them in later years.  "Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus."  Ephesians. 1:1

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Those who are called to the high service of building the body of Christ are favoured indeed. However, we must be content with "the will of God," and seek to support those charged with such responsibility.

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1 Timothy 5:17 E.S.V.
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Hebrews 13:17 E.S.V.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 E.S.V.
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.